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News Release

Today, PennEnvironment highlighted Pennsylvania residents profiled in a national project as leading voices for clean energy. The initiative, Voices for 100% Renewable Energy, is an online album with photos, testimonials and videos featuring a wide array of individuals – from academics, to mayors and other public officials, to community leaders, to business and nonprofit leaders – embracing a massive transition to clean energy.

Pennsylvanians featured in the in the project include Michael Mann, Director of the Earth System Science Center at The Pennsylvania State University; Jodie Van Horn, Director of Ready for 100 at the Sierra Club; and Richard Cook, President Emeritus of Allegheny College.

“We’re inspired by people like Michael Mann, Jodie Van Horn, and Richard Cook, who know we can and must shift to 100 percent renewable energy,” said Elowyn Corby of PennEnvironment. “We’re thrilled to share some of their stories through this project. Our hope is that it will motivate the many folks who know we need a swift, steady and complete transition from dirty to clean energy to lean into the effort.”

The people featured in the project cited a range of environmental, economic, equity, social, and health benefits from the transition to 100 percent renewable energy. Most focused on the urgent need to eliminate climate-altering carbon pollution. Others simply believe that it’s common sense and good economics to save energy and to harness unlimited, pollution-free energy sources.

“Whether it is in the form of jobs in the solar and wind industry – which are now more plentiful than fossil fuel industry jobs – energy cost savings or cleaner air, Americans can see what clean energy provides and know that the future is a renewable energy future” said Michael Mann, Director of the Earth System Science Center at The Pennsylvania State University.

“I come from coal miners of Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania. My great uncles, Jim and Art, worked the mines all their lives” explained Jodie Van Horn, Director of Ready for 100 at the Sierra Club. “In those days coal was king, but now we have ways to power our society that don’t heat the planet and make people sick.”

“It is vitally important that leaders worldwide address climate change as an urgent priority. We must insist upon it,” said Richard Cook, President Emeritus of Allegheny College. “Colleges and universities are leading the way through research into and adoption of approaches to energy, food, and water that model a vitally important future of reliance on sustainable sources.”

“For years, we’ve been told that pollution from dirty fuels was the price we had to pay for progress,” said Corby. “Those days are over. Now, we can forge ahead, inspired by the growing numbers of people like those profiled in the Voices for 100% Renewable project; who know that 100 percent renewable energy is as feasible as it is necessary.”